First time Citrus grower, Hello! Shikuwasa questions

[Gonzo]

Hello Tropical Fruit Forum!

I am new to the group, thank you for allowing me to be part of the forum.

I am about to receive my first Shikuwasa tree, I am located in Denver. Is there a preferred bagged soil for citrus? My plan is to pot it outside during the warm months, and bring into my home during colder months and place in a south facing window. At the moment that's the best I can do. How important is humidity for the Shikuwasa? Any tips for growing here in Colorado?
Most of my experience is with vegetables on a market garden scale. Couple dwarf peach and Asian pear trees. Lots to learn.

Thank you for any guidance!

[Calusa]

No doubt you can learn a lot from our moderator Millet - he grows some nice citrus and lives in Clorado too.

[Gonzo]

Thanks Calusa! I'm excited to learn.

[sc4001992]

You can use the Miracle-Gro Garden Soil Cactus, Palm and Citrus (Home Depot, $4 a bag).

[Seanny]

I use potting mix from HD or Lowes.
I would add 1 part pumice to 4 part potting mix to increase aeration.
I would add 1 part rice hull to the mix to add silica for better leaves.

[sc4001992]

Seanny, where do you get pumice for a reasonable price? I don't find it much and don't like to pay too much for it, just use perlite if I need more drainage.

[Gonzo]

Thanks sc4001992 and Seanny!

I did pick up some of the Cactus/Palm/Citrus soil and some Fox Farm Happy Frog, mixed at a 1:1 ration for the 3 gal pot i put it into yesterday. I'll have to look into rice hulls.

Perlite vs Pumice; IMO as a geologist, it's "same same different", get what's in your budget and available. Both help drainage.

[Millet]

Some bag mixes work well enough (Miracle Grown Garden Soil) for a while, but often after a year problems began. In my opinion the 5-1-1 medium so far has shown the best long term results.

[Alippincott]

Seanny, where do you get pumice for a reasonable price? I don't find it much and don't like to pay too much for it, just use perlite if I need more drainage.

I bought some bags of red lava rock cheap. They are a bit bigger in size, but I wonder if they work just as good as perlite.

[Seanny]

I bought 50 lb bag of pumice from Orange County Farm Supply on Chapman, in Orange.
It was $10 before Covid.
Last year it was $18.

[sc4001992]

ok, thanks that's a good price for 50lbs of pumice. I will need to go visit them.

[Seanny]

Gonzo,

Sometimes I use Fox Farm Ocean Forest.
They seem excellent.
Happy Frog seem good.
They are very friable a year later.
I add sand and pumice to them.
I don’t keep tract of which mix in which pot so I don’t know long term issues.

My fruit trees stay in same pots for years without problem.
I haven’t tried 5-1-1.